Melissa Harris-Perry: Nothing is riskier than being poor in America
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MHP and her panel discuss race baiting in the republican party, voter suppression, welfare, class mobility and safety nets for the poor.
If you watch nothing else watch from 8:00 to 9:00. MHP is on FIYA. My mom and I stood up and clapped. No joke. I'll quote what she said for people who can't watch:
Nancy Giles: Which is enabled by public education and healthcare for the poor. (not exact, I'll be exact with MHP)
Monica Metha: Which is enabled by risk-taking which was missing from that speech.
MHP: What is riskier than being poor in America? Seriously. What in the world is riskier than being a poor person in America? I live in a neighborhood where people are shot on my street corner. I live in a neighborhood where people have to figure out how to get their kid into school because maybe it will be a good school and maybe it won't. I am sick of the idea that being wealthy is risky. No! There is a huge safety net that whenever you fail will catch you and catch you and catch you. Being poor is what is risky!
Monica Metha: Melissa...
MHP: We have to create a safety net for people and when we won't because they happen to look different from us..it-it-it is the pervasive of ugliness. We can not do that.
But, seriously watch that part if you can. You will not regret it because she speaks with such passion. I was blown away.